Concept
Passive intellect
Overview
term used in philosophy
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Passive intellect is discussed.
17) that, "in the soul, just as in every nature, there is something whereby it can become all things, and there is something whereby it can make all things." But an angel is a kind of nature. Therefore there is an active and a passive intellect in an angel. Obj. 2: Further, the proper function of the passive intellect is to receive; whereas to enlighten is the proper function of the active intellect, as is made…
Aquinas Thomas, Summa Theologica, Part I
names the idea; states what it is; author linked in the graph
the language of the Vulgar Tongue; wherefore I will say, even as did the Apostle: "Oh, great is the depth of the riches of Wisdom of God: how incomprehensible are Thy judgments, and Thy ways past finding out!" And since the complex nature of the seed may be better and less good, and the disposition of the receiver of the seed may be better and less good, and the disposition of the dominant Heaven to this effect may…
Dante Alighieri, The Banquet
states what it is; names the idea
Philosophical thought proceeds analytically, in so far as it only accepts its object, the Idea, and while allowing it its own way, is only, as it were, an on-looker at its movement and development. To this extent philosophising is wholly passive. Philosophic thought however is equally synthetic, and evinces itself to be the action of the notion itself.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, The Logic of Hegel
author linked in the graph
How babe of animal becomes, remains For thy consid’ring. At this point, more wise, Than thou hast err’d, making the soul disjoin’d From passive intellect, because he saw No organ for the latter’s use assign’d.
Dante Alighieri, Divine Comedy, Cary's Translation, Purgatory
names the idea
Another dualism is that of activity and passivity in knowing. Purely empirical and physical things are often supposed to be known by receiving impressions. Physical things somehow stamp themselves upon the mind or convey themselves into consciousness by means of the sense organs. Rational knowledge and knowledge of spiritual things is supposed, on the contrary, to spring from activity initiated within the mind, an…
John Dewey, Democracy and Education
Philosophers who discussed Passive intellect
Related ideas
- Avicenna
- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
- Philosophy
- Alexander of Aphrodisias
- Hylomorphism
- Islamic philosophy
- On the Soul
- Al-Farabi
- Latin
- Thomas Aquinas
- Aristotle
- Ousia
- Universal (metaphysics)
- Nous
- Elsevier
- Averroes
- Active intellect
- Philosophy of mind
- Themistius
- Moses of Narbonne
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Empiricism.